Pulp feed for a paper making machine

ABSTRACT

The lip at the outlet of the nozzle duct is adjustable via an adjusting mechanism which includes a longitudinal adjusting rod disposed parallel to the pivot axis of the lip and a number of connecting rods pivotally connected at each respective end to the adjusting rod and the lip. Axial movement of the adjusting rod causes the lip to move relative to a permeable element on a suction roll. The movement of the lip is carried out in a curvilinear relation with respect to the axial movement of the adjusting rod.

United States Patent Stotz et al.

PULP FEED FOR A PAPER MAKING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Wolf-Gunter Stotz, Ravensburg;

Otto Hildebrand, Taldorf, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Escher Wyss GmbH, Ravensburg,

Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 453,398

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1973 Switzerland 5455/73 [52] U.S. Cl. 162/317; 162/346; 162/347 [51] Int. Cl. ..D21F l/04 [58] Field of Search 162/281, 347, 317, 346

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,097 6/l939 Metcalf 162/347 3,321,360 5/1967 Holt 162/347 Primary E.\'anzinerS. Leon Bashore Assistant Examiner-Peter Chin Attorney, Agent, or FirmKenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin 5 7 ABSTRACT The lip at the outlet of the nozzle duct is adjustable via an adjusting mechanism which includes a longitudinal adjusting rod disposed parallel to the pivot axis of the lip and a number of connecting rods pivotally connected at each respective end to the adjusting rod and the lip. Axial movement of the adjusting rod causes the lip to move relative to a permeable element on a suction roll. The movement of the lip is carried out in a curvilinear relation with respect to the axial movement of the adjusting rod.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Fun"; Elf

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1-0f2 3,909,349

IIIIIIIIIIIII US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,909,349

Fig.2

PULP FEED FOR A PAPER MAKING MACHINE V This invention relates to a pulp feed for a paper making machine and particularly to an adjustable lip for controlling pulp feed to a permeable element.

Paper making machines have been known in which pulp is fed onto a permeable element for the formation of a paper fleece. In such machines, it has been usual to be able to control the amount of pulp fed to the permeable element for various reasons. For example, in one type of machine, it has been known to feed the pulp through a nozzle duct which terminates at the permeable element. In this case, the nozzle duct has been closed laterally by a lip which can be adjusted relative to the permeable element to adjust the height of the nozzle duct. Generally, the lip has been mounted to pivot about at least one pivot and an adjusting mechanism secured to a fixed Support has been used to move the lip.

In pulp feeds of this above type, it must be possible to adjust the lip in relation to the permeable element with great accuracy. This problem is made difficult by the fact that the lip is often very long, since the lip extends over the whole width of the paper-making machine and is usually relatively flexible or resilient. However, the adjusting mechanisms which have been used have a number of disadvantages. Quite apart from the fact that these mechanisms are relatively complex in construction, the mechanisms often lack the necessary rigidity to avoid sagging under the pressure of the pulp. As a result, accurate adjustments is virtually impossible.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a pulp feed which can be readily and very accurately adjusted by means of a very simple adjusting mechanism.

It is another object of the invention to provide accurate adjustments of a lip of a nozzle duct relative to a permeable duct especially when in closely spaced relation.

Briefly, the invention is directed to an adjusting mechanism for use in a paper making machine having a permeable element for forming a paper fleece, a pulp feed including a nozzle duct for delivering pulp which terminates at the permeable element and a lip which is pivotably mounted on a pivot axis for laterally closing the nozzle duct relative to the permeable element. The adjusting mechanism is connected to the lip for pivoting the lip relative to the permeable element so as to adjust the height of the nozzle duct. To this end, the adjusting mechanism has an axially movable adjusting rod which extends parallel to the pivot axis of the lip as well as at least one connecting rod which is pivotably connected to the adjusting rod at one end and to the lip at the other end.

The adjusting rod together with the connecting rods enable the height of the nozzle duct to be accurately adjusted. The adjusting mechanism formed by these parts is very simple and robust and also has the special advantage that in the zone of the zero point, i.e. with the connecting rods perpendicular to the adjusting rod, the transmission ratio produced from the relationship between the adjusting movement of the adjusting rod and the following movement of the lip is very considerable. As a result, the accuracy of adjustment is particularly high in such zone.

Preferably, a scrcwthreaded mechanism can be provided to adjust the adjusting rod in the longitudinal direction. This mechanism enables the adjusting rod to be very accurately adjusted, substantially without clearance while using very simple means.

Each of the connecting rods can also have a screwthreaded mechanism for adjusting their length, so that the pulp feedcan be adjusted to inaccuracies, e.g. in the dimension of a roller used to hold the permeable element, while on the other hand the zero setting, i.e. the .zone in V which the adjusting movement reaches greatest accuracy, can be adjusted as required within wide limits.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates a view of a part of a paper making machine utilizing a lip adjusting mechanism according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fragmented view of the construction of FIG. 1 taken in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 graphically illustrates the relationship between the movement of the adjusting'rod of the adjusting mechanism and the spacing between the lip and a permeable roll element.

Referring to FIG. 1, the paper making machine which is generally of known construction has a vacuum breast roll 1 connected with a suction system (not shown). The roll 1 is associated with a pulp feed 2 which includes a casing 3 which houses a distributing box 4 to which pulp, i.e. a suspension of paper fibers and additional materials in water, is fed from a source (not shown). The distributing box 4 distributes the pulp uniformly over the whole width of the paper-making machine. Adjoining the box 4 is a guide device 5 which can contain, for instance, a large number of fine ducts. From the guide device 5, the pulp moves into a nozzle duct 6 which terminates at a permeable element 7 disposed on the surface of the roll 1. The permeable element can be, for instance, a round or long screen (not shown) as is known.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the nozzle duct 6 is bounded at the side by a lip which consists, forv example, of two lip portions 8, 10 which can be adjusted independently of one another. The lower lip portion 8 is pivotably connected via a hinge 11 to a support l2 which extends along the whole of the lip 8, 10 in parallel relation. The upper lip portion 10 is also connected to the lower lip portion 8 via a hinge 13 which allows the two lip portions 8, 10 to make pivoting movements relative to one another. The hinge 13 is connected to a support 15 via one or more adjusting mechanisms 14. The upper end of the top lip portion 10 is connected to the support 15 via one or more adjusting mechanisms 16. The two adjusting mechanisms 14, 16 are so constructed as to enable the lip portions 8, 10 to be moved close up to the roll 1 or removed therefrom. The supports 12, 15 are attached to side walls 17 at the ends of the machine (FIG. 2).

Referring to FIG. 2, each adjusting mechanism 16 contains an adjusting rod 20 mounted on bearings 21 on the support 15 to slide in an axial direction. The rod 20 extends over the whole width of the paper making machine and can therefore be very long. The rod 20 is also parallel with the axes of the hinges 11, 13 while the bearings 21 are attached to the upper support 15. The left-hand end of the adjusting rod 20 has a screwthreaded means for moving the rod 20 axially. This means includes a screw threaded end 22 on the rod 20 screwed into an internally threaded socket 23 which is mounted radially and axially in bearings (not shown) in a bearing casing 24. The means also has an adjusting pin 25 having an external hexagonal surface for adjustment by a suitable tool whereby the socket 23 can be rotated to cause axial movement of the rod 20.

The adjusting mechanism 16 also contains a plurality of connecting rods 40 securing the adjusting rod 20 to the lip portion 10. Each of these connecting rods 40 is secured at one end to a connecting part 26 attached along the adjusting rod 20 and to a supporting part 38 on the lip portion 10.

The connecting parts 26 each contain a cylindrical hub 27 clamped by screws 28 on the adjusting rod 20. Each connecting part 26 also contains projecting lugs 29 through which a pin 30 extends. Each pin 30 is mounted in a part 31 which is able to pivot about the axis of the pin 30. The connecting rod 40 includes a screw threaded rod 33 having screw threaded pins 32, 34 at opposite ends. The pin 32 at one end is screwed into the part 31 while the other pin 34 is screwed into a part 35 having a lug 36 at the end. The screw threaded pins 32, 34 of the screwthreaded rod 33 are either differently threaded or threaded in the same direction but with different pitches. The lug 36 in turn encloses a spherical pin 37 which is attached to the supporting part 38 and which is in the form of a spherical bearing. The screwthreaded pins 32, 34 also carry securing nuts 39. Although only two connecting rods 40 are illustrated in the drawings, it is self-evident that a larger number can also be provided if required.

The screw threaded means 31, 32, 34, 35 allow the length of each connecting rod 40 to be adjusted. I The adjusting mechanism 14 secured to the lip portion 8 can be made in a similar manner to the adjusting mechanism 16. Also, as shown, the end connected to the hinge 13 can be connected via a hinged connecting part similar to parts 29 and 31 above while a spherical bearing similar to the above is mounted at the other end.

The starting position of the adjusting mechanism, the so-called zero position, is the position in which the axes of the connecting rods 40 lie in planes extending perpendicularly to the adjusting rod 20. If then, the adjusting rod 20 is moved axially in the direction indicated by the arrow V, the lip portion is moved away from the vacuum breast roll 1 by the connecting rods 40. When the adjusting rod 20 makes a movement in uniform steps, the lip portion 10 is first raised slowly and then more and more quickly. These conditions are illustrated in FIG. 3, which shows the relationship between the axial movement V of the adjusting rod 20 and of the gap S (FIG. 1) between the nozzle duct 6 and element 7 at the end of the nozzle duct 6. The adjusting rod 20 is moved by rotating the socket 23 by means of the pin 25.

The relationship of movements between the adjusting rod 20 and lip portion 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 is very advantageous. For instance, the maximum accuracy of the adjusting movements is obtained in the zone of the zero position. The movements of the lip portion 10 become larger in proportion to the distance away from the zero position. At the same time, there is the greatest accuracy with low values of the gap S, where they are most required. With larger gaps, such a fine adjustment is no longer required.

The axial force occurring with an inclined position of the connecting rods 40 and acting on the lip 8, 10 can, for instance, be absorbed by axial bearings (not shown) with which the pivots l1, 13 can be provided.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a paper-making machine having a permeable element for forming a paper fleece;

a pulp-feed including a nozzle duct terminating at said permeable element to deliver pulp thereto;

a lip pivotably mounted on a pivot axis for laterally closing said nozzle duct relative to said permeable element; and

an adjusting mechanism connected to said lip for pivoting said lip relative to said permeable element to adjust the height of said nozzle duct, said mechanism including an axially movable adjusting rod extending parallel to said pivot axis, and at least one connecting rod pivotally connected to said adjusting rod at one end for pivoting about an axis perpendicular to said adjusting rod and to said lip at an opposite end.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjusting rod includes a screw-threaded means for moving said adjusting rod axially.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each connecting rod includes a screw-threaded means for adjusting the length of each connecting rod.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each connecting rod has a spherical bearing mounted at one end for connecting said rod to said lip. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A PAPER-MAKING MACHINE HAVING A PERMEABLE ELEMENT FOR FORMING A PAPER FLEECE, A. PULP-FEED INCLUDING A NOZZLE DUCT TERMINATING AT SAID PERMEABLE ELEMENT TO DELIVER PULP THERETO, A LIP PIVOTABLY MOUNTED ON A PIVOT AXIS FOR LATERALLY CLOSING SAID NOZZLE DUCT RELATIVE TO SAID PERMEABLE ELEMENT, AND AN ADJUSTING MECHANISM CONNECTED TO SAID LIP FOR PIVOTING SAID LIP RELATIVE TO SAID PERMEABLE ELEMENT TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF SAID NOZZLE DUCT, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING AN AXIALLY MOVABLE ADJUSTING ROD EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID PIVOT AXIS, AND AT LEAST ONE CONNECTING ROD PIVTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID ADJUSTING ROD AT ONE END FOR PIVOTING ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID ADJUSTING ROD AND TO SAID LIP AT AN OPPOSITE END.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjusting rod includes a screw-threaded means for moving said adjusting rod axially.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each connecting rod includes a screw-threaded means for adjusting the length of each connecting rod.
 4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein each connecting rod has a spherical bearing mounted at one end for connecting said rod to said lip. 